Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Formation and Value of Temperate Grasslands

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students get an overview of the climate and organisms of the North American Prairie. After a lecture, and watching some videos imbedded in this plan, students compile research data on the North American Prairie.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

How Much is Dirt Worth?

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders graph the percentages of the materials that make up the Earth and complete computations based on their results.  In this topsoil lesson, 4th graders diagram the different layers of Earth's composition.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space Science: A Scoop of Moon Dirt

For Teachers K - 8th
Students discover soil characteristics and how it is formed on Earth and the Moon by examining local samples to a lunar simulant. They replicate the effects of wind erosion by scraping dry bread with sandpaper. Students use rocks and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Site Formation In Archaeology

For Teachers 9th - Higher Ed
Students look at the findings of a Hopi Indian dig site in order to reconstruct the sequence of events that occurred in the past. They examine the stratigraphy while making multiple hypothesis about the artifacts and their locations at...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Exploring Great Salt Lake

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders go on a field trip to make observations about plants in the Great Salt Lake area. They make observations about the environment and record the types of pants that are living there. The instructional activity is to introduce...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Cavern Geology: Speleothem Construction

For Teachers K - 12th
Students discover how underground rock formations grow. They perform various activities based on grade level.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Google Earth Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Learners complete activities to learn how to use Google Earth and study Alaska. For this Google Earth lesson, students complete a Google Earth scavenger hunt to find facts about Alaska. Learners complete two worksheets for the topic.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Earth is a Changin'

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students view examples of different types of erosion. In this erosion lesson, students discuss the different types of erosion and how erosion changes Earth. Students explore erosion and the effect it has on engineering.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Rock and Roll with Music and Movement

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders improvise music and dance to express their analysis of types of rocks. They discuss the three classes of rocks, list describing words, and create a short musical piece and dance to symbolize the rock they are dancing.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Find Yourself with Global Positioning

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine different types of new mapping technologies. They use the internet to gather information about mapping and navigation. They create their own global positioning tool and defend it to the class.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's The Level?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Young scholars examine the movement of the water table and saturation zones. They describe the movements of the water table and locate the saturation zones. Students identify the function of each saturation zone. They develop a model of...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Earthquake!

For Teachers 2nd - 3rd
Students gain an understanding of earthquakes. They examine vocabulary associated with earthquakes, how earthquakes happen, and preventive measures taken to diminish damage or harm in the event that an earthquake should happen.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Everyone Up!

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Students examine various agriculture careers, both direct and indirect, related to crop production and distribution. In this food production lesson, students role play the processing chain in which crops move from producer to processor...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Map Reading

For Teachers 1st - 4th
After examining a map from 1803 and 2003, they explore how to become map readers. They describe what they see on the map from 1803 and compare the information to the map from 2003. Students create their own map of the neighborhood that...
Article
Other

Agronomy: Soil Formation [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Soils may be formed in place from rock or formed in weathered rock and minerals that have been transported from where the original rock occurred.
Activity
Science Buddies

Science Buddies: Get Down and Dirty: How Does Soil Change With Depth?

For Students 6th - 8th
What covers less than 10% of the Earth's surface, yet is a vital natural resource for terrestrial life? What filters ground water and supports most of our food production, not to mention the production of building materials and paper?...
Activity
Discovery Education

Discovery Education: The Dirt on Soil

For Students 3rd - 8th
This interactive website explores the various soil layers and introduces you to the lifeforms that live in those soil layers.
Handout
eSchool Today

E School Today: Your Revision Notes All About Soils

For Students 3rd - 7th
Learn what soils are and why they are important. Discusses soil profiles, types of soils, soil conservation, soil ecosystems, and soil formation.
Lesson Plan
Utah Education Network

Uen: The Dirt on Soil

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
After completing this lesson, young scholars will understand the source and the process for the formation of soil, the different types of soil, and the components of soil.
Lesson Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Soil Investigations

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Young scholars learn the basics about soil, including its formation, characteristics and importance. They are also introduced to soil profiles and how engineers conduct site investigations to learn about soil quality for development,...
Article
Other

Pipeline: Soil Characteristics Demystifying Dirt [Pdf]

For Students 9th - 10th
Soil is the foundation of conventional on site wastewater treatment.The drainfields used with on site systems work because the soil around the trenches acts as a filter and removes organic matter, some of the nutrients present in...
Unit Plan
TeachEngineering

Teach Engineering: Rock Cycle

For Teachers 7th - 9th
Through five lessons, students are introduced to all facets of the rock cycle. Topics include rock and mineral types, material stresses and weathering, geologic time and fossil formation, the Earth's crust and tectonic plates, and soil...
Website
The Field Museum

Field Museum: Exhibits: Underground Adventure

For Students 3rd - 8th
The Chicago Field Museum provides a comprehensive soil education project covering topics such as soil structure and organisms living underground. Students can use the site for research or do the full-blown project, where they establish a...